23rd August 2012
MEDIA RELEASE
A NEWLY REWORKED CLASSIC NEXT UP AT THE
DARLINGHURST THEATRE
Darlinghurst Theatre Company
Presents
MISS
JULIE
By August Strindberg
A new version by
Cristabel Sved and Kate Box
Darlinghurst Theatre Company
12 October – 11 November 2012
Director
Cristabel Sved
With
Kate Box and James Lugton
Designer Michael Hankin | Lighting Designer Verity Hampson | Movement Sam Chester |
Composition and Sound Design Ekrem Mulayim | Dramaturg Janice Muller
Literal Translation Charlotte Barslund
On the 100th anniversary of Strindberg’s death, Director CRISTABEL SVED (The Business, Before/After,
The Beauty Queen of Leenane) and actor KATE BOX (Rake, Offspring, Food, The Business) bring their
bold re-imagining of Strindberg’s classic to the Darlinghurst Theatre.
This Miss Julie is literally exploding out of her century, raging against the constrictions of class, gender and
the damage of her traumatic upbringing. Working together as writers for the first time, Sved and Box’s aim
has been to make the play’s psychology resonate for a contemporary audience.
Originally set on the eve of Midsummer 1888 on the estate of a Swedish Count, Miss Julie, the Count’s
daughter, Jean, her father’s oldest and most faithful attendant and Kristen the cook become part of a
dangerous and irreversible game.
Sved and Box’s exciting new version for Darlinghurst Theatre Company examines this sado-masochistic
play through the prism of the 21st century while maintaining a conversation with the 19th century parameters
from which the play originated.
Sved says of Miss Julie, “Strindberg was writing in a time of huge cultural transition – his characters are
struggling to feel a sense of wholeness and purpose – their despair and madness is so palpable and
recognizable today.”
Gender issues may have become more complex in the modern world and juggling expectations and roles
more challenging, but the themes and overwhelming tensions of Strindberg’s play remain strikingly potent.
His complex characters push their psyches to the outer limits and – like the playwright himself – rail against
societal expectations.
This production features a terrific cast. Kate Box brings strength, stature and dazzling talent to the role of
Julie - one of the great female roles of the theatrical canon, whilst James Lugton brings menace and brute
sexuality to the role of Jean. One of the surprises of this production is the rethinking of the smallest role,
Kristen, the cook, dismissively underwritten in the original but reworked here to startling effect. This role will
be announced soon.
MISS JULIE
Venue
Dates
Previews
Opening Night:
Performances:
Tickets
Bookings
Darlinghurst Theatre - 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point
12 October – 11 November 2012
12 – 14 October 2012
Tuesday 16 October 2012
Tues – Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm
$28 Preview, $38 Adult, $33 Student Conc., $33 Senior, $33 Groups of 10+
www.darlinghursttheatre.com,
(02) 8556 9987 or box office from 6pm Tues – Sun
For all media enquiries, including images, please contact publicist Emma Jones
E: emma@emmajjones.com.au M: 0411 474 359
ABOUT DARLINGHURST THEATRE COMPANY
Darlinghurst Theatre Company presents diverse artistic visions to engage audiences with the diversity,
power and possibilities of live theatre. Each production presents a new directorial and artistic vision,
which allows for a unique point of view and dialogue about the human experience through theatre.
Darlinghurst Theatre Company achieves this by developing, producing and presenting theatre
productions in collaboration with outstanding independent theatre artists.
In 2013, Darlinghurst Theatre Company will move to its new home, the Eternity Playhouse. Located in
Darlinghurst, this 132 year old heritage listed former Tabernacle is being renovated by the City of
Sydney to create a 200 seat state of the art theatre. Visit www.darlinghursttheatre.com for more
information.
Darlinghurst Theatre Company is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.
www.darlinghursttheatre.com
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Miss Julie is proudly supported by: